Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi giving a speech during the launch of Humanitarian Assistance for Sustainable Community (HASCO) at the Ministry building, Jakarta, August 31, 2017. (Photo: Twitter/@Portal_Kemlu_RI)

It's about time.

Tunggul Kumoro 04 September 2017 09:00

Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched Humanitarian Assistance for Sustainable Community (HASCO) for Rakhine State of Myanmar at the Ministry building, Jakarta, Thursday. The program aims to provide support to Burmese in the field of health, economics, education and general livelihood.

The launch was attended by a number of foreign representatives, delegations of international organizations in Jakarta, also social institutions in Indonesia.

Minister Retno Marsudi stated in her speech that the program displays the existence of well-built synergy between government and social organization in carrying out the commitment to assist friendly countries in need.

The support given is a partial and inclusive model of international aid and is in line with recommendations issued by Kofi Annan's Advisory Commission on Rakhine State.

"We appreciate the commitment of Mer-C, PMI, Walubi and PKPU for contributing to the establishment of a health care center in Rakhine State in order to assist the reconciliation and recovery process of the region," said Retno in a press release.

So far, a total of 11 social of organizations have dedicated themselves for the humanitarian movement in Myanmar. Four schools worth of USD 1 million have been established in the middle of Rakhine State's Muslim and Buddhist comminities since 2014. On January 2017, President Joko Widodo had also granted 10 containers containing food supply and two schools in Sittwe.

In 2012, an ethnic riot involving Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims sparked in northern Rakhine State. More than 80 died and 100,000 people have been displaced since.